Shoe lace clasp



SHOE LACE CLASP Filed March 25. 1964 5 zl 23 25 INVENTORS STANLEY ALTMAN F a 6 SOL SOBEL BY M be Attorney Agent ite States Patent Ofiice 3,225,402 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 3,225,402 SHGE LACE CLASP Stanley Altman, 1022 Rose St, and S01 Sobel, both of Plainfield, N.J.; said Sobel assignor to said Altman, Piainfield, NJ.

Filed Mar. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 354,636 Claims. (Cl. 24-120) The present invention deals with a shoe lace clasp and more particularly with a shoe lace clasp of the type adapted to secure portions of the shoe lace extending from the top shoe eyelets against lacing slippage and the resultant lacing loosening.

Shoe lace clasps of the type contemplated avoid the necessity of tying the free ends of laces after lacing to maintain the shoe lacing and provide the advantage of a simple and easy means for securing the shoe laces without resorting to the inconvenience of bow tying which is especially difficult for the younger children. Otherwise, clasps of this type are releasably slidable along the lace portions and adjustably claspable so that the excess free end portions of the lace may be tied in any conventional manner with the clasp so adjustably claspable between the tied ends and the shoe that lacing may be purposely but not accidentally loosened for removal of the shoe. When the shoe is put on, the loosened lacing can be drawn taut through the clasp and the clasp slidably moved toward the top shoe eyelets whereby the clasp is clamped to maintain the lacing in taut lacing condition.

Including the objects hereinafter recited the invention contemplates a 'ShOE lace clasp comprising a U-shaped base defined by a pair of laterally spaced legs and a bridge member connecting the pair of legs at one end thereof, the bridge member and legs having inner surfaces, the bridge member being cut-away adjacent the connected ends forming a U-shaped passage communicating between the legs and terminating in a seat on the bridge between the legs, abutment means substantially adjacent the leg inner surfaces and spaced from the seat, a grasp arm extending outwardly from the bridge member axially of the passage from a location spaced from the seat, a bore formed through each of said legs near the free ends thereof and in axial alignment with each other, an elongated lever arm having a head at one end portion thereof, the head having a face directed toward the other end of the lever arm with the face terminating in an edge means spaced from a longitudinal surface of the lever arm, a bore formed transversally through the head, the lever being rotatably mounted on the base between the legs, a pivot pin passing through the leg and head bores, the free end of the lever arm extending outwardly of the base in the direction of the grasp arm with a surface of the lever arm forwardly of head abutable against the abutment means in spaced relationship from the bridge seat, the head face edge means being variably spaceable from the bridge inner surface on rotation of the lever arm along an are generated by a radius extending from the pivot pin axis and the face edge.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe lace clasp of simple construction and which is easily applicable to shoe laces.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe lace clasp having a simple and rugged but efiective positive locking action against shoe lace lacing slippage with a minimum of clasping components.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter following and the drawings forming a part hereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates an isometric view of a lever arm as a component of a clasp according to the invention,

FIGURE 2 illustrates an isometric view of a base member as a component of the clasp,

FIGURE 3 illustrates an elevational bottom view of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 illustrates an isometric view of the assembled components of FIGURES 1 and 2 forming a shoe lace clasp according to the invention,

FIGURE 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4 and further shows a shoe lace in clamped position between the closed clasp components,

FIGURE 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the clasp of FIGURE 5 with the clasp components in a partly closed position,

FIGURE 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the clasp of FIGURE 5 with the clasp components in open position, and

FIGURE 8 illustrates an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view along lines 8-8 of FIGURE 4 in solid lines showing a closed position and in broken lines showing a partly closed position.

In accordance with the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows an enlongated clasp lever arm 1 having a top surface 2 and a cut-away bottom surface 3 cut-away from one end of the lever partly along the lever length with the cut-away bottom portion terminating substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the lever intermediate the ends of the lever thereby providing a head 4 at the other end of the lever approximately twice the thickness of the lever arm extending outwardly of the head. With the lever arm cut-away as illustrated, there is provided a substantially head clamp face 5 transversally of the lever arm and terminating below the cut-away surface 3 and facing the end of the lever arm extending from the head. The clamp face 5 terminates in a lever locking edge 6 which may be angular or rounded and defined between the flat face 5 and the substantially flat bottom portion 7 of the head 4. The head 4 is provided with a bore 8 therethrough transversally of the lever and parallel with the face 5.

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate a substantially U-shaped base member 9 having a pair of laterally spaced legs 10 and 11 connected together at one end by bridge 12. Legs 10 and 11 are each provided near their free ends 13 and 14 with a bore 15 and 16, respectively, formed through the thickness thereof and in alignment with each other. The legs 10 and 11 are provided with upper and lower edges 17 and 18 and 19 and 20, respectively. The bridge 12 is provided with a grasp arm 21 extending outwardly therefrom substantially parallel with the said edges. The grasp arm has upper and lower substantially fiat surfaces 22 and 23 with the lower surface 23 substantially in alignment with the lower edges 18 and 20. The upper surface 22 terminates below the upper edges 17 and 19.

The bridge 12 is cut-away from the upper edges 17 and 19 thereby forming a U-shaped lace seat 24 intermediate the upper and lower edges of the legs 10 and 11 and raised above the upper surface 22 of grasp arm 21. The inner sides 25 and 26 of legs 16) and 11, respectively, are each provided with an abutment means 27 and 28 above the lace seat 24 and below the upper edges 17 and 19, the abutment means terminating at equal distances above the lace seat and extending toward each other from, the said inner sides 25 and 26.

The bridge 12 is provided with a substantially flat bridge clamp inner face 12' extending downwardly from the lace seat 24 toward the lower edges 18 and 20 of legs 10 and 11.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the lever component 1 and the base component 9 in assembled position with a pivot pin 29 passing through bores 15 and 16 of the legs 10 and 11 an the bore 8 through head 4 when the said head is positioned between the inner sides 25 and 26 of the legs 10 and 11. The lever 1 is rotatably mounted on the pin 29 and when the lever arm is moved to closed position as illustrated the cut-away bottom surface 3 engages the abutment means 27 and 28 leaving a passage 30 between the lace seat 24 and the bottom surface 3. In the passage 30 the distance between the surface 3 and the seat 24 is less than the distance between the surface 3 of lever arm 1 and the upper surface 22 of grasp arm 21.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the positive locking and plural clamping function of the clasp according to the invention.

When the clasp is assembled and in closed position according to FIGURE 5, the lace portion 31 (shown as a single lace portion merely for illustration but in fact the two lace portions with one not shown are so positioned in clamped condition) passes initially substantially freely between the lever arm lower surface 3 and upper grasp arm surface 22, through the constricted throat passage 30 where the lace 31 is preferably at least lightly clamped between the surface 3 and lace seat 24, and thereafter between the head clamp face 5 and the bridge clamp face 12' where the lace is securely clamped between the said faces and thereafter passes outwardly of the other end of clasp base 9 between the inner surfaces 25 and 26 of legs and 11.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the clasp 9 with the lever arm 1 in partly closed position with the lace 31 passing freely over the seat 24 and is engaged in highly compressed condition between the locking edge 6 of head 4 and the upper portion of bridge clamp face 12 and thereafter passes outwardly between legs 10 and 11.

FIGURE 7 illustrates the clasp 9 with the lever 4 in open position where the lace 31 passes freely over the lace seat 24 and outwardly between legs 10 and 11. In the open position of lever 4, as illustrated, the clasp is freely slidable along the lact portion 31 for proper adjustment so that the shoe lacing may be either tautened when the shoe is put or loosened for the removal of the shoe.

FIGURE 8 illustrates an enlarged fragmentary view of FIGURE 1 for the purpose of clearly illustrating the positive locking action of the lever 1. The lace portion 31 is not shown in FIGURE 8 but it is applied as illustrated in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 and positioned relative to FIGURE 8 as particularly shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 in the closed and partly closed position of lever 1. With the lace inserted in the broken line position of lever 1 according to FIGURE 8 and as shown by FIGURE 6, the locking edge 6' in position A contacts the lace 31 between the upper edge surface of bridge clamp face 12' and the edge 6 with highly compressive action on the lace 31. In this position of the edge 6 the edge 6 is very near the face 12', and as the lever is manipulated for closing, the edge 6 follows an are (shown in broken lines) having its radius from the axis of pin 29 to the edge 6. The closing action against the lace 31 in passing through position A of edge 6 causes a resultant pressurization against the pin 29 and, thereafter, when the edge 6' passes point A, the edge 6 in following the radial arc assumes the closed locked position with the edge 6' now shown as edge 6 in its closed position at point B. In the closing action, the edges 6 and 6' are spaced from bridge face 12 a variable distance which may be from about 0.001 to about 0.030 inch. When the edge 6' passes along the arc through point A and becomes edge 6 at point B, pressure is released on the pin 29 which results in an actual snapping of the edges from point A to point B resulting in a positive locking action against the lace 31. In the locked position at point B, the lace 31 is released from the highly compressed condition at point A but is now clamped between faces 12' and 5 over a greater areal contact which assures secure clamping. In opening the clasp, the path of the edges are reversed and the edges are snapped into open position. In addition to the clamping of the laces between faces 5 and 12', the lace is further clamped to a lesser degree between the bottom lever surface 3 and the lace seat 24. However, it is not absolutely necessary to provide for the further second clamping on seat 24 since the clamping between faces 5 and 12' is adequate for ordinary lacing requirements.

Various modifications of the invention are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe lace clasp comprising a U-shaped base defined by a pair of laterally spaced legs and a bridge member connecting the pair of legs at one end thereof, the bridge member and legs having inner surfaces, the bridge member being cut-away adjacent the connected ends forming a U-shaped passage communicating between the legs and terminating in a seat on the bridge between the legs, abutment means substantially adjacent the leg inner surfaces and spaced from the seat, a grasp arm extending outwardly from the bridge member axially of the passage from a location spaced from'the seat, a bore formed through each of said legs near the free ends thereof and in axial alignment with each other, an elongated lever arm having a head at one end portion thereof, the head having a face directed toward the other end of the lever arm with the face terminating in an edge means spaced from a longitudinal surface of the lever arm, a bore formed transversely through the head, the lever being rotatably mounted on the base between the legs, a pivot pin passing through the leg and head bores, the free end of the lever arm extending outwardly of the base in the direction of the grasp arm with a surface of the lever arm forwardly of head abutable against the abutment means in spaced relationship from the bridge seat, the head face edge means being variably spaceable from the bridge inner surface on rotation of the lever arm along an are generated by a radius extending from the pivot pin axis and the face edge.

2. A shoe lace clasp according to claim 1, wherein the head face edge is variably spaceable from the bridge inner surface a distance between about 0.001 inch to about 0.030 inch.

3. A shoe lace clasp according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the lever arm is in abutment with the abutment means, and the distance between the bridge seat and the abutted surface of the lever arm is less than the distance between a surface of the grasp arm and the abutted surface of the lever arm.

4. A shoe lace clasp according to claim 1, wherein the head face surface and inner surface of the bridge are substantially flat surfaces.

5. A shoe lace clasp according to claim 1 wherein the head face edge is an angular edge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 657,606 9/1900 Lee 24120 2,914,830 12/1959 Peck 2412O WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SHOE LACE CLASP COMPRISING A U-SHAPED BASE DEFINED BY A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED LEGS AND A BRIDGE MEMBER CONNECTING THE PAIR OF LEGS AT ONE END THEREOF, THE BRIDGE MEMBER AND LEGS HAVING INNER SURFACES, THE BRIDGE MEMBER BEING CUT-AWAY ADJACENT THE CONNECTED ENDS FORMING A U-SHAPED PASSAGE COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE LEGS AND TERMINATING IN A SEAT ON THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE LEGS, ABUTMENT MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY ADJACENT THE LEG INNER SURFACES AND SPACED FROM THE SEAT, A GRASP ARM EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE BRIDGE MEMBER AXIALLY OF THE PASSAGE FROM A LOCATION SPACED FROM THE SEAT, A BORE FORMED THROUGH EACH OF SAID LEGS NEAR THE FREE ENDS THEREOF AND IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER, AN ELONGATED LEVER ARM HAVING A HEAD AT ONE END PORTION THEREOF, THE HEAD HAVING A FACE DIRECTED TOWARD THE OTHER END OF THE LEVER ARM WITH THE FACE TERMINATING IN AN EDGE MEANS SPACED FROM A LONGITUDINAL SURFACE OF THE LEVER ARM, A BORE FORMED TRANSVERSELY THROUGH THE HEAD, THE LEVER BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE BASE BETWEEN THE LEGS, A PIVOT PIN PASSING THROUGH THE LEG AND HEAD BORES, THE FREE END OF THE LEVER ARM EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF THE BASE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE GRASP ARM WITH A SURFACE OF THE LEVER ARM FORWARDLY OF HEAD ABUTABLE AGAINST THE ABUTMENT MEANS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP FROM THE BRIDGE SEAT, THE HEAD FACE EDGE MEANS BEING VARIABLY SPACEABLE FROM THE BRIDGE INNER SURFACE ON ROTATION OF THE LEVER ARM ALONG AN ARC GENERATED BY A RADIUS EXTENDING FROM THE PIVOT PIN AXIS AND THE FACE EDGE. 